BNS: Loudon II: Race notes

TED CHRISTOPHER ROLLS FROM 21ST TO VICTORY LANE IN SYLANIA 125 PRESENTED
BY LOWE'S AT NHIS; POINT RACE SHAKEUP FINDS SANTERRE BUILD SMALL
MARGIN WHILE KOBYLUCK TAKES BIG HIT
LOUDON, N.H.- Ted Christopher has made a career of winning ...

LOUDON, N.H.- Ted Christopher has made a career of winning weekly
modified races from deeply handicapped starting positions, so starting
21st in Friday's Sylvania 125 presented by Lowe's for the
NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch North Series at New Hampshire
International Speedway was hardly a major obstacle.

The colorful "TC" moved his Eagle Leasing Ford into the top
ten by lap 50, to the top five by lap 75, and took the lead for the first
time at lap 83. He swapped the top sport with Brad Leighton before taking
charge for good on lap 104 of the scheduled 125. A caution flag at lap
109 proved the end of competition as the showers which had plagued the
event all afternoon returned and NASCAR officials called the race
complete after 119 circuits.

It was Christopher's fifth Busch North win at NHIS, second to
Leighton's eight victories and his tenth overall in the series.
Ironically, his last Busch North win, at Watkins Glen, N.Y., in 2003,
also came in a rain-shortened event.

Leighton's second place was his best finish of the season. Ryan
Moore, one of four drivers who entered the day locked in a tight battle
for the Busch North title, took third with Brian Hoar fourth and point
leader Andy Santerre fifth, just ahead of teammate and point race
runner-up Mike Stefanik. The results extended Santerre's lead to 33
points over Stefanik in search of his fourth straight crown. Moore is now third, 58
points behind. The fourth contender, Matt Kobyluck, sustained a major
setback when he was eliminated in a mid-race accident and finished 33rd.
He is now 135 points back with three races remaining.

Six drivers swapped the lead a dozen times, with Leighton leading the
most laps. Stefanik, Moore, and Santerre all enjoyed spells at the front
of the field, as did Eddie MacDonald, who was forced to pit with a cut
tire while leading and eventually finished 27th. Nine caution periods
consumed 62 laps, with spins in turn three accounting for the majority of
the slowdowns. No injuries were reported.

Christopher averaged 77.329 miles per hour and won $17,000. Later in the
day he would also win the Sylva nia 100 for the NASCAR Whelen Modified
Tour, becoming the first driver since Mike McLaughlin in 1990 to sweep at
doubleheader at NHIS.

Tracy Gordon advanced from 34th to seventh to win the POWERade Power Move
of the Race Award, while Leighton improved his finish 16 positions from
the last race at Oxford Plains (Me.) Speedway. No Busch Pole Award was
made as qualifying was rained out on Thursday and the lineup set by the
NASCAR rule book criteria. John Salemi was the top finishing Sunoco
Rookie of the Year contender.

Behind Gordon, Joey McCarthy, Ryan Seaman, and Kelly Moore completed the
top ten. Of 37 starters, 29 were listed as running at the finish with 23
on the lead lap.

The Busch North Series continues next Friday, September 23, with the MBNA
RacePoints 150 at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del.